Housing mechanism for receiving memory card

ABSTRACT

A housing mechanism ( 8 ) includes a housing ( 1 ) and a defending element ( 3 ). The housing has a cavity ( 11 ), thereby defining a sidewall. The sidewall of the housing defines an opening ( 2 ) therethrough. The opening communicates with the cavity. The defending element is located at the opening, and includes a door pivotable for covering or uncovering the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to housing mechanisms and, more particularly, to a housing mechanism for receiving a memory card used in a portable electronic device.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

With the development of the technology of information processing, portable electronic devices such as digital cameras, mp3 players, video cameras, mobile phone, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) are now in widespread use. Memory cards are important elements to store datas and applications in such portable electronic devices.

In some electronic devices, the memory cards are pluggably fixed with housings of the electronic devices. One end of the memory card has a first electronic interface element. The housing of the electronic device has an opening in one sidewall thereof. A second electronic interface element is provided at a bottom of the opening. When the memory card is used, the first electronic interface element is inserted into the opening of the housing of the electronic device with the first electronic interface element engaging with the second electronic interface element of the electronic device. This enables the datas to be transferred among variable electronic devices. However, when no memory card is connected to the electronic device, the second electronic interface element of the electronic device is liable to be polluted by outer dust. Consequently, the performance of the second electronic interface element is liable to be damaged.

Therefore, a new housing mechanism for receiving a memory card is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcoming.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment thereof, a housing mechanism includes a housing and a defending element. The housing has a cavity, thereby defining a sidewall. The sidewall of the housing defines an opening therethrough. The opening communicates with the cavity. The defending element is located at the opening, and includes a door pivotable for covering or uncovering the opening.

Other advantages and novel features of the embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the housing mechanism can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present housing mechanism. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an assembled, isometric view of a housing mechanism, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, isometric view of the housing mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from another aspect;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the defending element of the housing mechanism of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the housing mechanism used with a memory card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT

The present housing mechanism is suitable for portable electronic devices such as digital cameras, mp3 players, video cameras, mobile phone, PDAs, and the like.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 5 shows a housing mechanism 8 used with a memory card 4 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Also referring to FIGS. 1-3, the housing mechanism 8 includes a housing 1 and a defending element 3. The housing 1 defines an opening 2 through which a memory card can insert into the cavity. The defending element 3 is attached to the housing 1, for covering the opening 2 when no memory card is inserted.

The housing 1 is substantially in the form of a rectangular block. A cavity 11 is defined in a center portion of the housing 1, thereby forming a sidewall. The cavity 11 is used to accommodate some electronic elements, such as a printed circuit board, therein, when the housing 1 is assembled with other housings of a portable electronic device. The sidewall of the housing 1 defines the opening 2 therethrough, communicating with the cavity 11. The opening 2 is substantially rectangular.

The defending element 3 is substantially a rectangular board, and the defending element 3 is made of elastic material. The size of the defending element 3 is larger than that of the opening 2. The defending element 3 includes a frame 30 and a door 31. The frame 30 is mounted to an inner side of the sidewall of the housing 1 and around the opening 2. The door 31 has a first long side 311, an opposite second long side 312, and two opposite short sides (not labeled).

Also referring to FIG. 4, the first long side 311 is integrally connected with one side of the frame 30. The second long side 312 and the two opposite short sides are separate from the frame 30, thereby the frame 30 defining a cutout 32 therein. The cutout 32 is substantially rectangular. The shape and size of the cutout 32 are substantially the same as those of the door 31. A plurality of slits 33 is defined through the first long side 311 adjacent the frame 30, thereby the door 31 is easy to open, i.e., rotate inward and upward about the first long side 311. The second long side 312 is rotatable about the first long side 311 relative to the frame 30 to cover or uncover the cutout 32.

When no memory card 4 is fixed with the housing mechanism 8, the door 31 is closed in the cutout 32. Hence the opening 2 is closed by the defending element 3. Referring to FIG. 4, when the memory card 4 is inserted into the housing mechanism 8, one end of the memory card 4 is inserted into the opening 2 by a user. During the process of the memory card 4 traveling through the opening 2 and then the cutout 32, the door 31 ispushed to rotate inwardly about the first long side 311 thereof the door 31. As such, the door 31 is pushed open. Hence the opening 2 is uncovered. At the same time, a resilient restoring force is produced at a joint portion of the door and frame due to elasticity of the defending element itself. Then the memory card 4 moves into the cavity 11 of the housing 1 for connecting with an interface of a printed circuit board.

When the memory card 4 is to be disassembled from the housing mechanism 8, the memory card 4 is moved out of the cavity 11 by the user. During the process of the memory card 4 traveling through the cutout 32 and then the opening 2, the door 31 is rotated forwardly to close the cutout 32 due to the action of the restoring force. When the memory card 4 is moved away the housing mechanism 8, the cutout 32 is fully closed by the door 31. Hence the opening 2 is fully closed by the defending element 3.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A housing mechanism for a portable electronic device, the housing mechanism comprising: a housing defining a cavity therein, including a sidewall with an opening defined therethrough, the opening communicating with the cavity, the opening being configured for allowing a memory card to insert into the cavity; and a defending element located at the opening, and integrally forming a door pivotable between a covering position and an uncovering position for covering or uncovering the opening.
 2. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening is substantially rectangular.
 3. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defending element is substantially a rectangular board.
 4. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the size of the defending element is larger than that of the opening.
 5. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the defending element further includes a frame, a first side of the door is integrally connected with the frame, and an opposite second side is rotatable about the first side of the door.
 6. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame defines a cutout, the shape and size of the cutoutis substantially the same with that of the door.
 7. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame is fixed to an inner side of the sidewall.
 8. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frame is fixed to the sidewall around the opening.
 9. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first side of the door defines a slit therethrough adjacent the frame.
 10. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 5, wherein the defining element is made of elastic material, when the door is rotated toward the uncovering position, the joint portion of the door and the frame produces a resilient restoring force due to elastic deformation of the defining element itself, for loading the door toward the covering position.
 11. A housing mechanism for a portable electronic device, comprising: a housing comprising a sidewall defining an opening for a memory card to insert therethrough; a frame fixed to an inner side of the sidewall at the opening; and a door pivotably attached to the frame for covering or uncovering the opening.
 12. The housing mechanism of claim 10, wherein the door is substantially rectangular, and is integrally extending from the frame.
 13. The housing mechanism of claim 11, wherein the door has a first long side integrally connected with the frame, and an opposite second long side and the other two short sides are separate from the frame.
 14. A housing mechanism for a portable electronic device, comprising: a housing comprising a sidewall defining an opening for a memory card to insert therethrough; and a defending element comprising a frame attached to the sidewall around the opening, and a door attached to the frame, the frame defining a cutout aligned with the opening, the door and the cutout having a substantially same shape and size, the door being pivotable for closing or opening the cutout.
 15. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein the size of the defending element is larger than that of the opening.
 16. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein the door has a first side integrally connected with the frame, and an opposite second side rotatable about the first side with respect to the frame, when the second side is rotated away from the frame, a joint portion of the door and the frame produces a resilient restoring force due to elastic deformation of the defining element itself, for loading the second side toward the frame.
 17. The housing mechanism as claimed in claim 16, wherein the joint portion defines at least one slit therethrough for increasing elasticity at the joint portion. 